Personal Injury Lawyer Columbus, Indiana

Accidents can happen anytime or anyplace, possibly resulting in serious injury. If you or a loved one have been the victim of an accident due to another person’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Wilson Kehoe Winingham are here in Columbus, Indiana, and can help you get the compensation you deserve.

About the Town of Columbus, Indiana

Columbus is a unique and surprising city located about 40 miles south of Indianapolis and due east of Bloomington, home to Indiana University. It is best known as a city of inspiring architecture. In fact, the city’s architecture is ranked 6^th in the nation by the American Institute of Architects, only behind Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, D.C. That’s quite a feat for a city with a population of only 50,000.

The city also boasts the 27-mile People Trail system, making it easy to get outside and enjoy the natural world. But, unfortunately, the charms of Columbus do not make it immune to personal injury accidents.

How Can a Columbus, Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?

There’s a lot to know about filing a successful personal injury claim. The first step should be to hire an experienced attorney. They will walk you through each step of the process, including establishing legal standing, determining liable parties, filing a claim with the proper court, and serving a complaint. Then comes the negotiations with insurance adjusters. Trying to manage this process on your own will only lead to frustration and leave money on the table. The experienced WKW attorneys are here in Columbus, IN, and ready to help.

Help Build Your Case

If you have been injured in an accident in Columbus and it was someone else’s fault, you will need to show proof to receive compensation. Our lawyers know that insurance companies will work against you to avoid any payout or offer the lowest amount possible to just make the case go away. To these insurance companies, you’re just an annoyance and a file number, but if you work with WKW, you’re a client we care about and we’ll fight to get you a full and fair settlement.

Determine Fault in an Accident

Your lawyer will first need to do some investigating to determine all possible negligent parties in a claim. Even cases that appear to be straightforward may get more complicated once the investigation begins. For example, in some instances, there could be negligence by a parts manufacturer that was nowhere near the scene of the accident but caused a malfunction. Having multiple liable parties is not unusual in personal injury cases.

Accurately Assess Damages

In order to maximize compensation, it’s so important to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer. You must not only consider your current injuries or state of well-being but also what will happen in the future. If your injuries persist, they may have long-term implications on your ability to work and/or require ongoing therapy.

Types of Personal Injury We Cover

Accidents can happen anytime to anyone. In other words, nobody plans to be in an accident. Depending on the type of accident, resulting injuries can range from minimal to life-altering. As a victim, you may have medical bills piling up and find yourself unable to work. The stress can feel overwhelming.

The experienced personal injury attorneys at Wilson Kehoe Winingham have handled all types of cases, from car accidents to workplace injuries to toxic mold. Personal injury lawsuits have been the primary focus of our law firm for more than 30 years.

Vehicle Accidents

Car and truck accidents are some of the most common reasons personal injury claims are filed, as are farming, boat, and motorcycle accidents. When drivers behave negligently, severe injury can be inflicted upon the victim, leaving them impacted for life.

This is especially true with a trucking accident because of the sheer size of the vehicle. The personal injury attorneys at Wilson Kehoe Winingham can help you get compensation for medical costs, ongoing treatments, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice suits happen when a doctor either failed to act or acted in a way that caused harm to a patient. These cases typically require extensive investigation of what happened to prove that the doctor or medical facility is at fault. Cases may include prescription error, surgical negligence, medical device failure, or improper treatment.

Other Forms of Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury cases have been a primary focus of Wilson Kehoe Winingham’s practice for more than 30 years. We have secured full and fair settlements for our clients and successfully taken cases to trial as needed. Other representative areas of personal injury cases we handle include:

• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Boating accidents
• Transportation accidents
• Aviation accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Golf Cart accidents
• Construction accidents
• Farming accidents
• Premises liability
• Mesothelioma (from exposure to asbestos)
• Dog bite lawyers
• Slip and fall accidents
• Fire and explosions
• Insurance claim denials
• Product liability
• Drug injuries
• Brain injuries
• Wrongful death
• Nursing home abuse
• Spinal cord injury
• Birth injuries
• Toxic mold exposure

Next Steps After a Columbus, IN Personal Injury Accident

What to do following an accident will likely vary depending on the type of accident and severity of the injuries, but the following steps are a general guide:

Seek Medical Attention

Put your safety first and get a medical assessment, even if you’re feeling ok. Pain can crop up later or increase over time and you’ll want a medical record on file in case your injury symptoms worsen. If injuries at the scene require immediate attention, dial 911.

Observe and Record as Much Information as Possible

Gather evidence and documentation. This means collecting and organizing documents and evidence related to your case—including police reports, medical records (dates, times, and provider info), photos, and any witness information collected at the scene.

It is also recommended that you write out exactly what happened at the accident as soon as you can following the incident.

File a Personal Injury Claim Before the Deadline

Be aware that each state has its own set of laws dictating when you may file lawsuits in court. These deadlines are called statutes of limitation, and they are strictly enforced. According to Indiana Code section 34-11-2-4, Indiana’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is set at two years, meaning you have two years from the day of your accident to file the initial court documentation.

We strongly recommend that you hire a lawyer prior to filing a claim. Having an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side can make all the difference to the amount of compensation you receive. Going it alone is a foolish pursuit, so speak to the WKW team in Columbus today.

Types of Compensation Available to Victims

There are two main types of compensation—categorized as damages—recoverable from personal injury lawsuits: special damages and general damages. Punitive damages can only be sought if the malpractice was undeniably negligent or outrageous, but those cases are quite rare.

Special damages are economic. They’re objective, quantifiable, out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the accident, such as loss of wages, medical expenses, or mobility equipment, like a wheelchair.

General damages are non-economic. They boil down to putting a price tag on an otherwise subjective injury, such as loss of enjoyment or a lower quality of life, pain and suffering, or emotional distress.

Hiring a Lawyers vs. Representing Yourself

Legally, there is nothing stopping you from representing yourself in the state of Indiana. This is known as “pro se” representation. However, most individuals who decide to go it alone end up frustrated and drained. Not to mention that they have likely settled for far less money than an experienced attorney would have secured.

The experienced personal injury lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham have helped clients for decades to secure favorable outcomes in the face of an unfortunate situation. Chances are, your injury would be the first time you’re encountering this process. Why go it alone when there’s an experienced and caring team here in Columbus to help you through this crisis?

Personal Injury FAQs

It’s common to have a lot of questions when facing your first experience dealing with a personal injury claim. Fortunately, our experienced team of personal injury lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham are in Columbus and ready to help.

How much will I have to pay for a lawyer?

If you are the victim of a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence, the last thing you need to be worrying about is the cost of legal representation. Don’t let the fear of not being able to afford a personal injury lawyer stop you from getting the help and guidance you need—and the compensation you deserve. Most reputable personal injury lawyers work on what’s known as a contingency basis, meaning that there’s no up-front, out-of-pocket cost to you.

Instead, when you are awarded your settlement, the lawyers receive a percentage of the money awarded. So not only does this alleviate some of the financial burden on the victim, but it also aligns the interests of both client and lawyer to seek the maximum settlement.

Do I have a legal right to compensation?

If you’ve suffered injuries due to the negligence of another person or entity, the State of Indiana allows victims certain rights around personal injuries. The experienced personal injury lawyers at WKW can walk you through your particular scenario—and even offer a free consultation—to evaluate your case and see how they can help.

How can I be sure that I have a personal injury case?

It’s worth talking to an attorney to see if you have a valid claim because of the actions of another party. In certain cases, you may still be able to file a claim even if you’re partially at fault. Note that in the state of Indiana, if a victim is found to be 51% or more at fault, they are unable to claim damages.

How much money will I get from my personal injury lawsuit?

It’s natural to ask what your Columbus, IN personal injury case is worth. But there’s no simple answer when our clients ask, as each injury and set of circumstances is unique.

Many factors determine the worth of a case, including how much blame is apportioned to each party, the severity of damages or injury, and the amount of insurance involved.

Generally speaking, an attorney will first need to do some research and learn more about your personal circumstances before being able to offer even a ballpark figure for a potential settlement.

WKW| Get the Compensation You Deserve With an Experienced Columbus, IN Personal Injury Attorney

Our team of personal injury lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham have decades of experience handling personal injury cases of all types. In fact, working with our clients to restore their lives during challenging times is at the core of our entire practice.

We limit the number of cases we take on so that every client gets the personal attention they deserve and need during this trying process. We fight for all of our clients to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

Reach Out to WKW Today for a Consultation

The personal injury lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham are here in Columbus and ready to help. Our firm offers a free, no-obligation consultation, so you can feel comfortable learning more about our services. Call our office today at (317) 669-9983.